Ben Roethlisberger (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/player/200315) is threatening to break some of the Pittsburgh Steelers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/67067)' most significant single-season passing records. Not all of them are marks he wants to own.

With 23 touchdown passes, he is five away from tying Terry Bradshaw's 1978 total of 28 with six games to play. He is also on pace to have the best quarterback rating in team history, and Roethlisberger might challenge Bradshaw's 1979 record of 3,724 yards with a few more big games.

Then there's the statistic Roethlisberger and the Steelers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/67067) want least: Most times sacked, 51, Cliff Stoudt, 1983.
Roethlisberger, despite being one of the NFL's strongest and most mobile quarterbacks, has been brought down 30 times in 10 games, including a season-high seven Sunday by the New York Jets (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/67057). At this rate, he'll be sacked 48 times, or two more than a year ago when Roethlisberger struggled most of the season as the Steelers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/67067) went 8-8. Another game like Sunday's, and he might be in Stoudt territory.

Roethlisberger, who has more TD passes (23) and fewer interceptions (8) than any NFL quarterback other than the Patriots (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/67054)' Tom Brady (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/player/70173), has avoided the numerous physical problems that disrupted his 2006 campaign - the preseason motorcycle crash, the appendicitis attack, the multiple concussions.
Still, asked how he feels at this stage of the season compared with his first three years, Roethlisberger said, "A little more beat up, but that comes with the territory of being the quarterback and getting hit. I think we'll be able to shut that down real soon."

Coach Mike Tomlin is making quarterback protection a primary concern going into Monday night's game against the Dolphins (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/67052) (0-10). Miami may be winless, but linebackers Jason Taylor (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/player/70086) and Joey Porter (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/player/70547) are strong pass rushers who present problems to any offensive line. No doubt Porter will be motivated to play the team that cut him in March.

The Steelers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/67067) (7-3) also had problems run blocking against the Jets (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/67057), who came into the game with one win.
"We need to do a better job of protecting up front," Tomlin said.
Tomlin also said Roethlisberger needs to get rid of the ball quicker at times, though he wouldn't credit a Jets (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/67057) scheme designed to prevent the quarterback from rolling out for causing all the pass protection problems. The Jets (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/67057) wanted to keep Roethlisberger from rolling out to his right, so they designed a pass rush to keep the quarterback constantly moving to his left.

"Nothing new," Tomlin said. "People know what he is capable of and we have seen that week in and week out."
Left guard Alan Faneca (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/player/70579) said the breakdowns were so numerous, there were only a few plays the Steelers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/67067) ran as designed without making mistakes.

"I think teams are always going to be aware of me getting out of the pocket," said Roethlisberger, who has been effective most of the season in improvising big-yardage plays. "They may have told their ends to get upfield more to keep me in there and teams are going to continue to do that. That's what they did my first and second year. We have to adjust and figure out a way to make plays. Maybe I'll just stay in the pocket more." Perhaps losing to the scuffling Jets (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/67057) will be enough to focus the Steelers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/67067)' attention against the Dolphins (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/67052). Another Pittsburgh worry is that Roethlisberger will be without his best downfield receiver, Santonio Holmes (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/player/401271), who has a sprained ankle that could keep him out for a few weeks.

"They're very dangerous," Roethlisberger said. "We know they're coming in here ready to get a win. But we're a pretty upset football team right now, and we've got some rebounding to do." Wide receiver Hines Ward (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/player/70572), already in the Steelers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/67067) record book with 685 career catches, doesn't think the across-the-board offensive breakdowns against the Jets (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/67057) are a sign of problems to come.

"We're fine. We just had a bad day," Ward said. "We don't need to change our philosophy or anything. We're still going to run the ball, we're still going to pass protect. We just had one guy on one page and another guy on a different page. We need to get all the guys on the same page all the time."

Prosdo

11-23-2007, 08:46 PM

Yeah, that is a record I didn't think Ben would be nearing. I think the biggest disappointment of this team is the play by the offensive line. Willie Colon while he has potential, I don't think he is quite ready. Sean Mahan is a bum. Ben also needs to learn when to just throw the ball away. Granted he has made some amazing plays on the run, but sometimes throwing it away just is a better option.

DIESELMAN

11-23-2007, 09:27 PM

7 step drops, Ben hanging onto the ball too long, receivers not knowing they are the hot receiver, receivers not breaking off routes to help Ben out, **** poor OL protection and **** poor backfield protection are just a few of the problems we have to solve now not tomorrow, or we either don't make the playoffs or don't get past the 1st round.

BlitzburghRockCity

11-23-2007, 09:31 PM

Yeah all those things you mentioned contribute to his sack total. I shutter to think how many more times he'd have been sacked this year if it wasn't for his escape abilities.

steelersgal86

11-24-2007, 07:10 AM

30 times in 10 games .... that is sad :cursin:

BlitzburghRockCity

11-24-2007, 07:28 AM

If we aren't careful we won't know whether it's David Carr back there or Big Ben because both of them are always on their backs :eyecrazy:

Captcoolhand

11-24-2007, 07:31 AM

Yeah all those things you mentioned contribute to his sack total. I shutter to think how many more times he'd have been sacked this year if it wasn't for his escape abilities.:ditto: And just the thought of what next season going to bring us if our O-line is playing this way now.:duh:

GoBenGo

11-24-2007, 04:00 PM

:ditto: And just the thought of what next season going to bring us if our O-line is playing this way now.:duh:
:yesnod:, to quote the Metallica you know it's sad but true

BlitzburghNation

11-25-2007, 01:10 AM

Sure hope he stays away from that record :crossfingers:

black an gold 4 life

11-25-2007, 01:22 AM

we have 2 shore up the blocking on the o-line, ben also has 2 get rid of the ball quicker,:cursin:this pisses me off:willybs:

Woodson_DownUnder

11-26-2007, 03:20 AM

we have 2 shore up the blocking on the o-line, ben also has 2 get rid of the ball quicker,:cursin:this pisses me off:willybs:

Perhaps and I have NO DOUBT myself, that Quality Receiver Depth is an issue.

Actually, our running depth isn't exactly CHOCCA - BLOCK !! :2cents:

BlacknGold Bleeder

11-26-2007, 11:38 AM

We all knew the line was going to be a problem. In our 3 losses we gave up 15 sacks, obviously 15 in 7 wins. The more alarming fact is the line is not jelling, it is getting worse now then earlier in season.

Maybe we are just too predictable, all the talk about the new offense just has never materialized. we aren't using the no huddle like there was talk of, the 4 wides,(not that we have enough healthy now), letting Ben take more control. Ya got to throw some new wrinkles out there...:2cents:

Forged in Steel

11-26-2007, 12:44 PM

He is just like David Carr he gets sacked everygame more than once.

BlitzburghRockCity

11-26-2007, 12:45 PM

I think our offense is unpredictable in that we are able to throw more and be more accurate with the pass but our protection just plain sucks. We've always been a predictable offense in the past and never had a problem with protection like we do this year.